The rare value of the hundred-petal lotus
Hanoians are proud of the Bach Diep lotus with the song: "Here is gold, here is black copper/Here is the morning glory flower, here is the West Lake lotus". Scientists also acknowledge that the Bach Diep lotus in West Lake is a lotus with many precious characteristics. This lotus is called Bach Diep because each flower has up to 100 petals. The Bach Diep lotus has double petals, pink color, long-lasting fragrance, large and plump lotus rice. The leaves are dark green, the leaf stalks and flower stalks are light green. Each leaf has 20 - 22 veins, rough leaf blades. The flower buds are long oval, the tip is light pink. In particular, the blooming time of this flower is very long, from the beginning of blooming to the end of fading, lasting from 15 - 20 days. The most popular value of Bach Diep lotus is because of its long-lasting and rich fragrance. Bach Diep lotus is very fragrant when brewed into tea.
In 2017, scientists from the Plant Resources Center (Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences) researched the conservation and propagation of this plant variety. Associate Professor, Dr. Dong Huy Gioi, Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, and his colleagues collected original gene sources in growing areas in West Lake to preserve original seeds at the Center for Conservation, Exploitation and Development of Lotus Gene Sources. From this original seed, he used tissue culture to create a guaranteed source of lotus seeds. This method helps to preserve the characteristics of lotus, and the seedlings are not affected by pests and diseases. The invitro research results were successful with more than 500 good seed samples.
Associate Professor Dr. Dang Van Dong (Institute of Vegetable and Fruit Research), who has many years of research on lotus, said that in reality, many precious lotus species/varieties in Vietnam are degenerating, so the conservation, preservation, restoration and development of precious lotus gene sources are very necessary. Normally, people can select the best plants, with precious characteristics, in the population to plant separately, then propagate by seeds (with purebred varieties) or propagate by underground stems/tubers in a disease-free environment, which will create good seedlings, retaining the characteristics of the original variety. However, Associate Professor Dong believes that, in order to preserve and restore effectively, with good quality seedlings, the tissue culture method is the most optimal. Tissue culture allows the creation of a large number of seedlings, in a short time, the seedlings still retain the original characteristics of the mother plant, thereby preserving the lotus gene source.
Thuy Su Pond is one of the most famous lotus ponds in Tay Ho. However, there was a period when the pond water was polluted, and the lotus species that love purity could not grow. For many years, Thuy Su was without pink lotus flowers and the fragrant season that wafted far and wide. Bach Diep lotus began the process of "revival" in early spring 2024, when Tay Ho District People's Committee coordinated with the Central Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute and Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center to implement the project "Building a model of lotus production associated with developing eco-tourism according to the value chain in Tay Ho - Hanoi". At that time, Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center (Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) supported Tay Ho District with 7,000 Bach Diep lotus seedlings and lotus growing materials.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khuyen - Secretary of Tay Ho Ward Party Committee shared: “Due to the narrowing area, in 2024 the locality must start renovating and restoring new planting. After a year of implementation, currently, the total area of 12.5 hectares of lotus in West Lake is bringing in revenue of about 50 billion VND per year and creating jobs for more than 100 workers,” said Mr. Khuyen.
According to Ms. Bui Thi Bao Anh (Tay Ho ward), one of the lotus growers participating in the project to restore and develop lotus cultivation in some small lakes in the West Lake area, after receiving support for Bach Diep lotus seedlings, the family proceeded to plant them according to the technical instructions of agricultural extension officers at Dau Dong lake. Every season, lotus blooms spread across the lake surface, creating a beautiful landscape and bringing in high income...
Around West Lake, there are still 18 ponds, with an area of tens of hectares. Tay Ho Ward will cover the entire pond system with Bach Diep lotus. In the city, the total lotus growing area is currently 600 hectares. In the future, the lotus area will be increased by one and a half times, up to more than 900 hectares, in which Bach Diep Tay Ho lotus is the lotus variety that is prioritized for expansion.
In the past, lotus flowers only bloomed in the summer, but thanks to the application of science and technology, many new varieties have been created, helping the lotus season in Hanoi now last from April to November every year.
Lotus tea "the best in the world" with digital technology
Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of Tay Ho Ward People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Tinh shared: “The proudest thing about Bach Diep Tay Ho lotus is that it has contributed to the formation of the unique cultural beauty of Hanoi people, especially the hobby of enjoying lotus tea. Currently, in the ward, there are 150 people working in the tea-scenting profession, of which nearly 100 artisans are capable of teaching the famous tea-scenting secrets. Tay Ho is also the largest lotus tea center in the country, with an output of 600 - 800 kg of dried lotus tea each year, not to mention tens of thousands of lotus-scented tea products supplied to the market.”
Lotus growers along the West Lake in the past not only "stored" lotus in the old town to serve the capital's people to make tea, but also hand-made the "first tea in the world". More than 1,000 Bach Diep lotus flowers are needed to make 1kg of tea, and it has to go through seven times of "fragrance" with elaborate and complicated steps. "Tea scented with lotus rice is the color of cockroach wings, and after several drinks, the tea is still fragrant. Fragranced with flower tea is a new way of scenting, putting tea in lotus flowers and tying them up, the scent is absorbed directly from the lotus flowers into the tea, so the tea water is more similar to the original color, the tea flavor is stronger, but the lotus scent is also lighter. We take Bach Diep lotus from the ponds on the outskirts of the city to scent tea, but the lotus along the West Lake is still the best, the tea is more fragrant", Ms. Ngo Thi Than shared.
The beauty of West Lake lotus is also remarkable because it is located in a harmonious whole with the sky and water of West Lake - the most famous scenic spot of the Capital, with a series of relics and cultural heritages around the lake. That is Tay Ho Palace, the place associated with the meeting between Trang Bung Phung Khac Khoan and Mother Lieu Hanh in one of the Holy Mother's incarnations. That is Kim Lien Pagoda - a unique architecture, worthy of being the "golden lotus" by West Lake. That is a series of ancient craft villages: Dao Nhat Tan, kumquat Tu Lien, sticky rice Phu Thuong... and also the long-standing lotus tea-making profession of the people of Quang An ward.
Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Son - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education commented: "Hanoi is promoting the development of cultural industry. We always want the unique cultural values of the capital to be exploited to develop cultural industry and tourism. Tay Ho can become the center of the capital's cultural industry through exploiting unique cultural values in the area and promoting the Tay Ho lotus brand."
Lotus not only has special spiritual and religious values but is also a multi-value crop, including nutritional value and utility value. Most parts of this plant can be used as food, medicine, or high-quality raw materials for the textile industry.
Hanoi has now developed many quintessential specialties made from lotus, which not only bring economic value but also are a unique cultural feature of Hanoi people. Hanoi has evaluated and classified 2,723 OCOP products; including 18 products from lotus such as: food products: lotus rice, lotus shoots, lotus seeds, lotus root starch; beauty and health care products such as lotus leaf tea, fresh lotus flowers; lotus cosmetics and handicrafts such as: hats, tea made from lotus leaves and lotus flowers.
Artisans have brought Bach Diep lotus products to digital technology platforms, on electronic platforms. The fact that e-commerce platforms actively participate in supporting people to consume Bach Diep lotus tea on digital platforms has contributed to meeting the requirements of trading goods, bringing goods to domestic and foreign consumers conveniently, safely, and with guaranteed quality. In addition to e-commerce platforms, the consumption of Bach Diep lotus products in the digital environment is also carried out by many production and business households through social networking sites such as: Facebook, Zalo, TikTok...
Bringing Bach Diep lotus products to e-commerce platforms is a step forward, a new direction for people to have more channels to distribute agricultural products in the digital environment, especially opening a safe and sustainable consumption channel for the famous Tay Ho specialty to spread around the world.
The Bach Diep lotus flowers are "reviving" widely, contributing significantly to promoting, preserving, and exploiting traditional cultural heritage values and attracting tourists to West Lake in particular and Hanoi in general.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/bao-ton-va-phat-huy-sen-bach-diep-tu-cong-nghe.html
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